We kicked off our journey from the East Coast, and—let’s be honest—most of Middle America isn’t exactly known for its must-see stops. So, we made a beeline for Colorado. With two weddings to attend and our RV renovation taking longer than expected, we had only one week to get from Maryland to Carbondale, CO. The following weekend, we had another wedding in Bozeman, MT, so we had to hustle there as well.
So, I consider Bozeman the true beginning of our adventure.
I’ve been putting off sharing this because, unfortunately, I lost ALL my pictures and videos from this incredible first six months. It’s heartbreaking. All I have left are the posts I shared on Instagram—so instead of images, I’ll be inserting Instagram posts and hoping it’s not too annoying for readers!
Pictured above: Us at the Wedding in Bozeman!
Month 1: August 2023 – From Maryland to Colorado to Bozeman
Starting off in Bozeman was amazing. While we had been there before, we never had the time to fully explore the state. We started off by unknowingly causing a social media stir when we shared a spot a local had recommended, which he called “Little Yellowstone.” The view was epic, and my post about it went viral—unfortunately, it also led to many Montanans telling me I wasn’t welcome and reminding me they own guns. It was a wild start.
Highlights from our Montana trip:
Bozeman Downtown
Bozeman Hot Springs
Hyalite Reservoir (aka “Little Yellowstone”)
Livingston, MT
Nimrod Hot Springs
Whitefish
Glacier National Park
Plenty of amazing lakes for camping!
After visiting Glacier National Park, we decided to cross the border into Canada and explore Banff. The border crossing was a breeze from the western side of Glacier. Entering British Columbia felt like Montana on steroids!
Above: My Semi-Viral Post that Got me in trouble with all of Montana
Month 2: September 2023 – British Columbia
If you love mountains, BC is a must-visit. It’s one of the most epic regions I’ve ever driven through—hot springs, breathtaking views, hiking, waterfalls, skiing, and charming small towns everywhere.
Honestly, while Banff is undeniably stunning, it was one of my least favorite places in BC. It’s so touristy and crowded, even in the off-season. The views and hikes (especially Lake Louise) are incredible, but I enjoyed the smaller, lesser-known towns much more.
Other incredible parks near Banff worth visiting: Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho, and Glacier.
Highlights from BC:
Banff, Kootenay, Yoho, and Glacier National Parks
Golden
Revelstoke
Pemberton
Whistler
The Sunshine Coast
Vancouver Island (go whale watching!)
Tofino
Victoria
By October, the weather in BC was turning cold and rainy, so we knew it was time to head south. We took the ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles, Washington.
Month 3: October 2023 – Washington and Oregon
Port Angeles is an incredibly charming town to start off in. The ferry from Victoria dropped us there, and we began heading west. Cape Flattery, the northwesternmost point of the contiguous United States, was breathtaking. Even in October’s chilly weather, we saw surfers along the coastline.
We moved through Washington quicker than I would have liked, but Olympic National Park was a huge highlight. The Tree of Life was stunning, and beach camping was beautiful. We ended our Washington adventure at Cape Disappointment—which, ironically, did not disappoint!
Oregon was even better. The coastline is spectacular, with incredible rock formations and driftwood forts. We hit Eugene for trick-or-treating and then headed to Cannon Beach for the iconic Haystack Rock.
Months 4 & 5: November–December – California Dreamin’
As soon as we hit the California coast, the weather shifted from gloomy to warm and sunny. We probably should have skipped Crescent City, but exploring the Redwoods was a soul-touching experience. Eureka was also a super cute stop.
One of our favorite places was Shelter Cove on California’s Lost Coast. We initially went there because a Harvest Host brewery was located way out there, but we ended up falling in love with the area and even tried to buy an old RV park there. We couldn’t stay forever, though, and eventually moved on to Mendocino, which stole our hearts with its rustic charm.
We also explored Sonoma wine country—honestly, I could have skipped the pretentiousness, but the wine and food were excellent (if overpriced). After flying home for Thanksgiving, we stayed in San Francisco for a few days before heading south. Monterey Bay Aquarium was a highlight, and of course, we had to drive down Big Sur, one of the most stunning coastal drives in the world.
We spent extra time in Morro Bay, where we found countless sand dollars, surfed, watched sea otters with their babies, and ate amazing seafood. We then met up with friends outside LA for mountain biking before heading to San Diego for the holidays.
Months 6 & 7: January–February 2024 – Baja Blast
This wasn’t our first time in Baja, but it was our longest—and our first time taking the ferry over to mainland Mexico. We crossed the border in Tecate instead of Tijuana for a quieter entry, aiming to explore the Sea of Cortez side.
Our first stop was San Felipe, a great place for beach camping and local restaurants. We continued down the coast, making stops at:
Puertecitos for the tidal hot springs
Bahia de Los Angeles (where we got engaged years ago!)
Campo Archelon, our favorite beachfront camping spot with great amenities
San Ignacio, a surprisingly charming inland town
Mulege, where we camped at Bahia Concepcion
Loreto, a cute town with excellent food
Magdalena Bay for gray whale watching
La Paz to swim with whale sharks
Todos Santos and Cerritos, where we lingered before taking the ferry to mainland Mexico
We skipped Cabo—too touristy for our taste!
That wraps up the first six months of our adventure! It’s wild to look back at how much we packed into that time. From here, we continued into mainland Mexico, witnessed the Great Eclipse of 2024 in Mazatlán, and planned to re-enter the U.S. by April.
What an adventure it’s been so far!
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